"Practically none of the Macedonans who have obtained a Bulgarian passport lives in Bulgaria. A large majority of them obtain the passport so they can work in EU countries. My wife on the other hand lives in Bulgaria for 11 years, speaks perfect Bulgarian, pays taxes, however is unable to obtain a citizenship" explains Bulgarian citizen Stefan Rusenov in an interview with Dnevnik.

In Bulgaria, you need to be a Macedonian so you can obtain a Bulgarian citizenship or passport overnight.

Macedonians in Bulgaria don't speak Bulgarian, they don't pay taxes here, but when it comes to obtaining our citizenship, they do it in record time, within a year - says Stefan Rusenov whose wife is from the Ukraine and is unable to obtain Bulgarian citizenship for years. According to Bulgarian laws, she would need to give up her Ukrainian passport to become citizen of Bulgaria.

- Instead of receiving a response in a year, we got our response in three years - that my wife can obtain a citizenship in three years, but, the condition was she must give up her Ukrainian citizenship. Then more problems. From the Ukrainian Embassy we were told she must register to fulfill her request of giving up her Ukrainian citizenship (which lasts 8 months), and only after that she can submit her request to give up her Ukrainian passport - explains Rusenov in frustrating fashion.

While the procedure to give up her home citizenship was being processed Rusenov protested to the Ministry, because according to him the Macedonians were getting their passports too quickly, without any issues.

- When they get their documents, they don't live in Bulgaria, they move on to Western Europe. On top of that, the same Macedonians discuss in Forums that when Macedonia enters the Union they will toss their Bulgarian passports. And look at my wife, she is here 11 years, pays taxes, speaks perfect Bulgarian. And our Ministry tells me "We are under orders, and we must obey them, we can't help you!" Something is very wrong in this country - says Rusenov.

While the procedure to give up her Ukrainian citizenship is under way, the already logged application for Bulgarian citizenship may expire, and then the Rusenov family is back at square one.

Stefan Rusenov doesn't know who can help him. He works for a US based company that manufactures car parts, and says he has lost all hope.

Official stats from Sofia verify Rusenov's explanation. Although being warned on numerous occasions by the EU, Bulgaria continues to issue citizenships to foreigners, where Macedonians lead the charge. Last year Sofia issued 22,000 passports to foreigners. Indeed, Macedonians, particularly those living in eastern Macedonia have virtually no trouble receiving a Bulgarian citizenship. The entire procedure is done within a year with little to no documentation requested.

Meanwhile, people like Stefan Rusenov, a Bulgarian citizen isn't unable to obtain a citizenship for his wife.